Flexible suspension system for home appliance



June 16, 1964 A. u. KHAN 3,137,467

FLEXIBLE SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR HOME APPLIANCE Filed April 28, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 RUemZo 7":

A. u. KHAN 3,137,467 FLEXIBLE SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR HOME APPLIANCE June 16, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 28, 1961 pension members.

of the strip toward the attaching ends 28 and 29. The side flanges 27 which provide a stiffening effect terminate short of the ends 28 and 29 with the strip being twisted as indicated at' 30. between the ends of the flanges and the attaching ends 28 and 29 of the strip. The stiffening flange 27 provides the same function as several twists of strip 21, i.e., both the stiffening flange 27 and the twisting of strip 21 give compressive strength to the suspension members. I

From the above description it can be seen-that each of the suspension members is twisted to obtain the flexibility needed for bending in any family of planes through and parallel to the longitudinal axis of strip 21 and any untwisted portion as illustrated in the embodiment of FIGURE 3 is provided with a longitudinal stiffening flange. p

The suspension system of this invention provides a number of advantages not heretofore present in suspension systems for washing machine tubs of. this type. Thus, because the suspension strips suspend the tub and associated parts in tension, the strips are small in cross sectional area and take up only a small amount of space thereby helping to conserve space for the ultimate user of the machine. This permits using a smallercabinet to enclose a tub of any given size. Furthermore, because each suspending metal strip is a single integral unit with no welds, they are easy and not expensive to make and to install. Furthermore, without the Welds of former apparatus they are stronger and safer.

Having described my invention as related to the em bodiment's" shown in the accompanying drawings, it is my intention that the invention be not limited by any of the details of description, unless otherwise specified, but

rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scop as set out in the accompanying claims. 3

I claim: V

1. In a washing machine having a tub subjected to forces tending to .move the tub relativeto the'machine including torsional forces and vibration forces, a suspension system'comprising: a supporting structure; and a plurality of elongated suspension members for suspending said tub from said structure each having an upper end fixedly attached to said supporting structure and a sion members and, movement of said tub in all directions in a plane passing through the lower ends of said sus- 2. In-a washing machine having a tub subjected to forces tending to movethe tub relative to the. machine including'torsionalforces and'vibration-forces, a suspension system comprising: a base member for mounting said tub; a frame arranged to extend around the tub pension system comprising: a base member for mounting said tub; a frame arranged to extend around the tub and having an upper portion located above said base member; and a plurality of elongated suspension members suspending said base member and thus said tub' from said frame, each suspension member having an upper end fixedly'attached to said frame and a lower end fixedly attached to said base member, each of said suspension members com-- prising an elongated metal strip having a longitudinal axis and twisted about said axis for at least a portion of its length and for at least about 90 to facilitate flexing of having an upper portion located above said base memher; and a plurality of elongated suspension'members suspending said base member and thus said tub from said frame, each suspension member having an upper end fixedly attached to said frameand a lower end fixedly attached to'said base member, each of said suspension 7 members comprising an elongated metalf strip having a longitudinal axis and twisted about said axis for at least i a portion of its length and for at least about 90 to fa- 1 cilitate flexing, and an untwisted portion between said ends provided with a longitudinal stiffening flange resisting flexing. 7

5. In a washing machine having a tub subjected to forces tending to move the tub'relative to the machine including torsional forces and vibration forces, a suspension system comprising; a base member for mounting said tub; aframe arranged to extend around the tub and havv Iv ing an upper portion located above said base member,

and a plurality ofelongated suspension members suspending said base member and thus said tub from said frame, each suspension member having an upper endfixedlv attached to said frame and a lower end fixedly attached to said base'member,each of saidsuspe nsion members comprising an elongated metal strip havinga longitudinal axis and twisted about. said axis between said ends for at least about 90.

6. In a washing machine having a tub subjected tog forces tending to move the tub relative to the machine including torsional forces and vibration. forces, a suspension system, comprising: a base member for mountingjsaid tub; a frame arranged to extend around the tub and havpending said base member andthus" .saidtubfrom said and having an upper portion located above said base-v member; anda plurality of elongated suspension members suspending said base member and thus'said-tub from said j frame, ea'chsuspension member having an upper: end,

fixedly'attached'to said frame and alower end fixedly attached to said base member, each of said suspension 3. In a washing machine having a tub subjected to forces tending-to movethe'tub relative to the machine including-torsional forces and vibrationforces, a sus- .frame,[each suspension member having an upper end fixedly attached to said frame and a lower end fixedly attached to said base member, each of said suspension members comprising anelongated metal strip having a longitudinal axis and "a longitudinal stiifeningflange ex--; tending on either side of the centeibffSaidstrip, {said strip being twisted about said axis between said flange and said ends. r i

References Cited in thefileof this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,390,213 Geldhoif- Dec. 4; 2,968,457 Krauss Y Y Jan'. l7,

- FOREIGN PArE Ts p 254,041, Switzerland Mar; 20, 1944' 683,677 Great Britain. Deer 3, 1952 i 

1. IN A WASHING MACHINE HAVING A TUB SUBJECTED TO FORCES TENDING TO MOVE THE TUB RELATIVE TO THE MACHINE INCLUDING TORSIONAL FORCES AND VIBRATION FORCES, A SUSPENSION SYSTEM COMPRISING: A SUPPORTING STRUCTURE; AND A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED SUSPENSION MEMBERS FOR SUSPENDING SAID TUB FROM SAID STRUCTURE EACH HAVING AN UPPER END FIXEDLY ATTACHED TO SAID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE AND A LOWER END ARRANGED TO BE OPERATIVELY AND FIXEDLY ATTACHED TO SAID TUB, EACH OF SAID SUSPENSION MEMBERS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED METAL STRIP HAVING A LONGITUDINAL AXIS AND LATERALLY DEFORMED IN AREAS ABOUT SAID AXIS FOR AT LEAST A PORTION OF ITS LENGTH TO FACILITATE FLEXING OF SAID SUSPENSION MEMBERS AND MOVEMENT OF SAID TUB IN ALL DIRECTIONS IN A PLANE PASSING THROUGH THE LOWER ENDS OF SAID SUSPENSION MEMBERS. 